BASED in Chattanooga, Kristina Maurer Montague is a woman using her human and financial capital to use capital to ignite more women-led ventures in the southeastern U.S. and beyond.

Her firm's website describes its commitment to establishing "the southeast as the nation's best place for a woman to invest in or grow a business."

Montague is not pursuing such an enormous objective on her own: She is the managing partner of Jump Fund Management Group LLC in Chattanooga, which took its first steps in 2013, initially backed by seven women.

Despite progress to date, JumpFund has its work cut out for it: Only 6% of early-stage investment in the Southeast is made in companies with gender-diverse leadership teams, according to data cited on the Jump Fund page. Related commentary here.

Still, Montague told Venture Nashville that during her five years spent establishing Jump Fund, she is certain she has seen more women becoming involved in deals, more women-led startups and more women participating in national organizations for Angel investors and others.

VNC research indicates that three other Jump Fund portfolio companies have in the past couple years ceased operations: Torch, eDivv and Zoomthru.

VNC has not been unable to determine with certainty the status of two other companies: Rezli (Chattanooga) and Rooibee Red Tea (Louisville). This story will be updated, as warranted.

Montague moved to Chattanooga 23 years ago, and is a native of Seattle, she confirmed. She and her husband, Tom Montague, reside in Chattanooga.

In addition to Jump Fund, she is active in Golden Seeds, the women's national Angel investment network, and in the Next Wave Impact project and Rising Tide Network, a global initiative to educate women about angel investing as an asset class.

She is also a member of the board of directors of Launch Tennessee (aka Tennessee Technology Development Corporation, or TTDC). Notably, LaunchTN has taken steps to contribute to increased diversity among entrepreneurs and investors, and now administers a Social-Impact fund. Related coverage here.